OPMET DATA

OPMET data: Operational meteorological information in coded form

• METAR
• TAF
• SIGMET
• GAMET
• AIRMET

 

METAR

METAR / METAR HISTORY reports describe the actual meteorological situation at an aerodrome and its vicinity by reporting the following elements:

- Surface wind and direction and variations thereof
- Visibility
- RVR when applicable
- Present weather
- Cloud amount
- Type and height of cloud base or vertical visibility
- Air and dewpoint temperature and pressure (QNH)
- Trend

In case METAR reports are created and issued automatically, this is indicated by the word AUTO in the report.

METAR HISTORY product provides METAR's from, at most, the last 24 hours.

TAF

A TAF is a forecast that consists of a concise statement of the expected meteorological conditions at an aerodrome for a specific time period. A TAF contains information on the expected surface wind, visibility, weather and clouds as well as on expected significant changes to one or more of these elements during the validity period.

Two types of TAFs exist: the 'short' TAF (TAF FC) has a validity period of 9 hours and is issued every 3 hours while the 'long' TAF (TAF FT) has a validity period of 30 hours and is issued every 6 hours. In Belgium TAF forecasts are issued according to the following time table:
 

Issue time	Validity period	Aerodromes for which TAF is issued
		EBBR	EBOS	EBLG	EBCI	EBAW
02.30Z	03Z - 12Z	-	-	-	X	X
05.30Z	06Z(J) - 12Z(J+1)	X	X	X	-	-
05.30Z	06Z - 15Z	-	-	-	X	X
08.30Z	09Z - 18Z	-	-	-	X	X
11.30Z	12Z(J) - 18Z(J+1)	X	X	X	-	-
11.30Z	12Z - 21Z	-	-	-	X	X
14.30Z	15Z - 24Z	-	-	-	X	X
17.30Z	18Z(J) - 24Z(J+1)	X	X	X	-	-
17.30Z	18Z(J) - 03Z(J+1)	-	-	-	X	X
20.30Z	21Z(J) - 06Z(J+1)	-	-	-	X	X
23.30Z	00Z(J) - 06Z(J+1)	X	X	X	-	-
23.30Z	00Z - 09Z	-	-	-	X	X

 

SIGMET

SIGMETs are warnings in abbreviated plain language for a specified flight information region (FIR) or a sub-area thereof. It gives a concise description concerning the occurrence and/or expected occurrence of thunderstorms, severe turbulence, severe icing and volcanic ash, which may affect the safety of aircraft operations.

SIGMETs are only issued in case one of the specified phenomena occurs and/or is expected to occur. skeyes issues SIGMET warnings for the Brussels FIR (EBBU) for subsonic cruising levels.

GAMET

 

A GAMET area forecast is an area forecast in abbreviated plain language for low-level flights (up to flight level 100) for a specified flight information region (FIR) or a sub-area thereof. It contains information on en-route weather phenomena expected to be hazardous to low-level flights (e.g. strong wind, low visibility, thunderstorms, significant clouds, icing and turbulence) as well as additional information required by low-level flights (synoptic situation, surface wind, upper-air wind, upper-air temperature, visibility, cloud, freezing level and lowest QNH). skeyes  issues Gamet area forecasts for the Brussels FIR according to the following time table:
 

 

AIRMET

AIRMETs are warnings in abbreviated plain language for a specified flight information region (FIR) or a sub-area thereof. It gives a concise description concerning the occurrence and/or expected occurrence of strong wind, low visibility, thunderstorms, significant clouds, moderate icing and moderate turbulence, which are not included in the last issued GAMET area forecast and which may affect the safety of low-level aircraft operations (up to flight level 100). skeyes issues AIRMET warnings for the Brussels FIR.